As carmakers struggle to integrate software systems into vehicles, Toyota weaves in its Arene toolkit
Summary
Toyota, the world’s biggest carmaker, unveiled its latest RAV4 compact sport utility vehicle that would be the first model to feature its Arene software development platform. In the new RAV4, the Arene platform has helped with the development of software powering the car’s new multimedia system’s cockpit voice agent and centre console display, as well as advanced safety technologies. So, justifiably, it had similar big ambitions when it created its own in-house technology startup in 2021 as it set about trying to build software for its newer cars, especially hybrids and battery electric vehicles. The Arene platform is the first big commercial product to come out of this repurposed venture, which, Toyota says, combines the company’s “decades of manufacturing expertise with modern software capabilities”. The learning from both Tesla and BYD, the two EV market leaders, is that car brands are increasingly being differentiated by the consumer experience of using their inbuilt features, which is now determined much more by their software than the hardware.